Hair drier



Jan. 3, 1967 w. L. CHAMBERS ET AL 3,295,869

HAIR DRIER 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed April 6, 1961 Jan. 3, 1967 w.L. CHAMBERS ET AL. 3,295,869

HAIR DRIER Original Filed April 6, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 1967 w. L.CHAMBERS ET AL 3,295,869

HAIR DRIER Original Filed April 6, 1961 5 Sheets-$heet 3 United StatesPatent 3,295,869 HAIR DRIER Worthy L. Chambers, Wilmette, and Gilbert R.Wolter,

Elmhurst, Ill., assignors to Sunbeam Corporation, Chlcago, lll., acorporation of Illinois 0 Application Mar. 20, 1964, Ser. No. 353,479,which a division of application Ser. No. 101,241, Apr. 6, 1961 nowPatent No. 3,168,382, dated Feb. 2, 1965. D1- vided and this applicationMay 27, 1965, Ser. No.

4 Claims. (Cl. 285200) This invention relates to improvements in hairdriers, and more particularly, to an improved hair drier cap and methodsof making the same and an improved air hose connector for hair driers.This application is a division of our copen-ding divisional patentapplication Serial No. 353,479 filed March 20, 1964 which in turn was adivision of our parent application Serial No. 101,241 filed April 6,1961, now Patent No. 3,168,382.

The cap of the instant invention is an improvement over caps of the typeillustrated in copending Hair Drier patent application Serial No.653,336, filed April 17, 1957 by Ivar Jepson, now Patent No. 3,006,079,issued October 31, 1961, and assigned to the same assignee as theinstant invention. Since its introduction into the commercial market thecap of said copending patent application has performed its purposesadmirably. At the time the cap was introduced the hair styling orcoiffures then in vogue were of the feather cut type which were not veryvoluminous. The cap was generally conical-shaped and facilitated thedrying of such coiffures. The cap size was adjustable by adjusting meansdisposed along the apex of the cone shape. Since the coiffures then invogue were not very voluminous and did not require relatively large hairsetting instruments it was not necessary for the cap to be very wide anddeep.

Hair stylings have radically changed recently and now the bouifant typeof hairdo which occupies a relatively large volume and requires largerhair setting instruments is considered to be fashionable. This new typeof hair styling and its necessary larger hair setting instrumentsrequire a cap which is larger than those of the'prior art. Therefore, itwould be desirable to provide a hair drier cap which is wider and deeperand better suited to the new hair fashions.

Home hair drier devices conventionally comprise a cap and aheater-blower unit which are interconnected by an air hose. Theheater-blower unit can be positioned on a convenient surface such as atable or the like and preferably the hose is made relatively long andflexible so that the housewife is afforded a limited amount of freedomor movement to perform other tasks while she is sitting at the table.However, it may be necessary for the housewife to momentarily leave thetable, as for instance to answer the telephone or the like. For thisreason, it would be desirable to provide a connector for quicklydisconnecting and connecting the air hose with respect to either the capor the heater-blower unit.

Some prior art hair drier caps and air hose connectors have thedisadvantage that they comprise a relatively large number of separateand distinct parts which increase their material and manufacturingcosts. For instance, some prior art caps comprise several separatepieces of cap material which must be individually fabricated and thenassembled into a cap shape by a plurality of distinct operations such asseveral stitching operations. Likewise, some prior art air hoseconnectors comprise a plurality of separate parts which must beindividually fabricated and then asssembled by a plurality ofassemblying operations. Therefore, it would be desirable to provide ahair drier cap and air hose connector which require a minimum number3,295,869 Patented Jan. 3, 1967 ICC of separate parts and manufacturingoperations whereby they are low cost and easy to fabricate. Also, sincesome air hoses are diflicult to connect to the cap while it is on theusers head, it would be desirable to provide an air inlet openingstructure in the cap which would make it easy for the user to connectthe air hose thereto while the cap is on the users head.

It is one object of the invention to provide an improved hair drier capand air hose connector and methods of manufacturing the same.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved air hoseconnector in hair driers which can be quickly disconnected and connectedwith respect to either the hair drier cap or the heater-blower unit, andpreferably the cap.

It is a further object of the invention to provide improved methods ofmanufacturing hair drier caps which require a minimum number of partsand fabricating operations whereby the cap and the cost of manufacturingthe same is reduced.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved air hoseconnector which has a minimum number of parts and can be readilyfabricated with a minimum number of manufacturing operations.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved air inletopening structure in a hair drier cap so that the user can easilyconnect an air hose thereto while the cap is on the users head.

Briefly, in the preferred form of the invention the cap is formed fromtwo nested sheets of flexible impervious material which have integralforward and side flaps which correspond to the forward and side portionsof the cap, with the remainder of the sheets comprising the crown andrear portions of the cap. Preferably the sheets are formed from plasticmaterial and the sheets and flaps are seamed or sealed to each other byheat joining their edges together to form an air manifold therebetween.The hose connector is likewise a plastic part which has integralportions which provide latch means, latch biasing means or latchretaining means which can be formed by molding. Additionally, the cap isprovided with an air inlet opening structure so that the hose connectorcan be easily conneoted to the cap while it is on the users head.

The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are setforth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself,however, both as to its organization and operation, together withfurther objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood byrefer-. ence to the following description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one form of improved hair drier cap;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the cap illustrated in FIG. 1 taken alongthe section line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view of the material of the hair drier cap laid out flat toillustrate the method of manufacturing the cap;

FIG. 4 is a broken-away side elevational view of one form of improvedair hose connector;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the section line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of another form of air hose connector;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the section line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a side elevation view of another form of air. hose connector;a

FIG. 9 is a sectional view along line 9-9 of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is a sectional view along line 10-10 of FIG. 9.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, in one form of the invention theimproved hair drier cap comprises a crown portion 1, two opposite sideportions 2, a forward portion 3, and a rear portion 4. The cap isfabricated from two nested sheets 5 and 6 of impervious flexiblematerial. The sheets 5 and 6 are spaced with respect to each other todefine a manifold 7 therebetween. The sheets 5 and 6 are preferablycoextensive with each other and are sealed to each other in a manner tobe described hereinafter so that the manifold 7 extends throughout thecrown portion 1, the side portions 2, the forward portion 3, and therear portion 4.

The inner sheet 6 has a plurality of air distributing apertures 8 formedtherein to dire-ct drying air from the manifold 7 onto the cap usershair. The drying air enters the manifold 7 from an air hose 9 by aconnector 10 connected to the rear portion 4 of the cap. The improvedconnector 10 will be described hereinafter. The drying air is exhaustedfrom inside the cap after it has picked up moisture from the hair by wayof an outlet or exhaust opening 11 formed in the forward portion 3 ofthe cap. The exhaust opening 11 is formed in both sheets 5 and 6 of thecap, whereas an inlet opening for the connector 10 is formed only in theouter sheet 5 of the cap.

The bottom edge of the cap has adjusting means to fit the cap snugly onthe cap users head so that none of the drying air will escape frombeneath the bottom edge and blow on the cap users face or neck to causediscomfort. The adjusting means comprises a plurality of pleats 12formed in the bottom edges of the side and forward portions 2 and 3,respectively. These pleated edges have an inner elastic band 13 stitchedor otherwise connected thereto. Preferably the inner surface of band 13is lined or surfaced with a soft material so as to cause no discomfortwhen the bottom edge of the cap is drawn tightly about the cap usershead.

The adjusting means also comprises drawstring means for the bottom edgeof the rear portion 4. The drawstring means comprises a drawstringpassageway 14 formed in the bottom edge of the rear portion 4 in amanner to be described hereinafter. A pair of drawstrings 15 aredisposed in the passageway 14. When the drawstrings are loosened thebottom of the cap can be fully opened. Tightening of the drawstringswill draw the bottom edge of the cap snugly about the cap users head.When the cap is fully opened it will very easily pass the large bouffanttype of hairdos which are currently popular as well as the relativelylarge hair setting instruments which are required for this type ofhairdo. Additionally, since the cap is relatively wide and deep it isadmirably suited to the drying of current hair stylings and providessufficient space for the same and their larger hair setting instruments.The drawstrings 15 extend throughout the length of passageway 14. Oneend of one drawstring is anchored adjacent the corresponding end of thepassageway by means such as stitching 16, and the opposite end of theother drawstring is similarly anchored at the other end of thepassageway 14. The stitching 16 is preferably disposed through theopposite ends of the elastic band 13 so that when the free ends of thedrawstrings are pulled to shorten the passageway 14 to tighten the capabout the cap users head the elastic band 13 is also simultaneouslytensioned. The free ends of the drawstrings extend out of theircorresponding ends to the passageway 14 through suitable means such aseyelet openings 17 formed at the opposite ends of the passageway 14 inthe outer sheet 5. The eyelet openings 17 are illustrated in FIG. 3, andFIG. 3 should now be referred to in connection with a description of themethods of manufacturing the cap.

FIG. 3 shows the two sheets 5 and 6 of the cap laid out flat during onestage of the cap manufacturing process. Parts which correspond to thoseparts illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 are given identical referencenumerals. The sheets 5 and 6 are preferably coextensive with each otherand are superimposed. Both sheets are preferably precut into anoctagonal shape. That is to say, both sheets have generally isoscelestrapezoidal-shaped forward flaps which correspond to the forward portion3 of the cap. The generallyisosceles trapezoidal-shaped forward flapsare tapered in a forward direction. Both sheets also have a pair ofopposite side flaps which correspond to the sides 2 of the cap.. Theside flaps are generally triangularshaped and right angled. They extendfrom the rear portions of the forward flaps and taper rearwardly intomerged relationship with the rear of the sheets which corresponds to therear portion 4 of the cap'. The sheets are placed one upon the other andthen their corresponding outer edges are sealed to each other byapplying heat thereto. The heat-sealed edges provide a heat-formed seam20 which extends continuously about the eight sides of theoctagonal-shaped sheets. The two sheets which are thus sealed withrespect to each other provide the manifold 7 therebetween which extendsthroughout the. central or crown portion 1 of the two sheets, theforwardportion 3, the side portions 2, and

the rear portion 4. Inasmuch as the central portion 1, the rear portion4, the forward flaps 3 and the side flaps 2 are integral with each otherthe number of separate pieces required to fabricate the cap is held to aminimum 1 and the manufacturing process is greatly simplified over inthe front top and side areas thereof to receive the ourstill otherpositions.

rently popular bouffant type hair styles.

The drawstring passageway 14 is provided by forming a heat seam 22between the sheets 5 and 6 adjacent to the rear edge 20 of the twosheets in slightly spaced relationship with respect thereto.Additionally, the side portions 2 of the cap have their lower partsisolated from the manifold 7 so that drying air is not blown directly onthe cap users ears. This is accomplished .by forming a pair of heatseams 23 between the two sheets 5 and 6 in the side portions 2. Theheat-formed seams 23 extend from the seams 21 across thetriangular-shaped side flaps to the heat-formed seam 22. The heat-formedseams 23 thereby prevent any air in the manifold 7 from entering thelower part of the side portions 2 Where they might be directed againstthe cap users ears and possibly cause discomfort. For this reason also,the apertures 8 in the side portions 2 are spaced slightly above theseams 23.

An inlet aperture which is bounded by an annular member 35 is formed inthe rear portion 4 for receiving the connector 10 slightly above theseam 22. In this position of the connector 10 the hose 9 will hangdownwardly and rearwardly from the cap without having any tendency topull the cap off the users head. The two sheets 5and 6 which definemanifold 7 will become inflated when a not shown blower unit which isconnected to the opposite end of hose 9 is turned on. In order toprevent the two sheets 5 and 6 from ballooning to too great a degree thecentral portions of the two sheets are joined together by a heat-formedconnection indicated generally by reference numeral 24.

The particular disposition of the inlet and exhaust openings for the capcould be reversed or be placed in However, the illustrated arrangementis preferred inasmuch as it is believed to provide maximum userconvenience and freedom of movement without interference from thehanging hose 9. Inasmuch as the inlet opening is disposed in the rearportion of the manifold 7 a plurality of air passageways or conduits areformed in the cap to insure equal distribution of air to the variousportions of the cap. The passageways or ;the heat-fonned seals or seams.

formed with these seams but it is more convenient to do this after theseseams are formed since the portions 2 and 3 mustbe turned towards eachother to form seams 21. The manifold to hair air distributing apertures8 will ,have been preformed in the inner sheet, and the same is -truefor the aperture 11 in both sheets and the inlet aperexaggeratedinflation or ballooning of the various cap portions.

Although heat-formed seals or seams are utilized in fabricating the cap,it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that stitchings canbe utilized in practicing the invention. However, the heat-formed sealsor seams provide an easy method of manufacture and, therefore, arepreferred. For this reason in the preferred form of the invention thesheets 5 and 6 are constructed from plastic material which can bereadily sealed with respect to each other by the application of heat.Although in the preferred method the sheets 5 and 6 are precut intooctagonal shape, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that theinvention does not necessarily have to be practiced in this manner. Thatis to say, the octagonal seam 20 could be formed in superposed sheetswhich are not precut into octagonal shape and then the excess materialcould be trimmed off. Also, the two nested sheets do not necessarilyhave to be octagonally shaped or coextensive with each other in allrespects For instance, the bottom part of the inner sheet 6 which isdisposed in the side portions 2 below the seams 23 could be omitted.

However, they are not omitted for the reason that they contribute to thestrength of the cap and using identical sheets may provide manufacturingcost advantages inasmuch as they can then be simultaneously precut in asingle cutting operation.

The exhaust opening ll formed in the forward portion '3 through the twosheets 5 and 6 is preferably bounded by a washer 28 which is captivebetween the two sheets by virtue of two heat-formed seams 29 and 30formed about the washer 28. Additionally, the washered exhaust opening11 is bounded by a spaced heat-formed seam 31 ;=which traverses theforward portion 3. The seam 31 prevents undue ballooning of the forwardportion 3.

The heat-formed seams or seals 20, 22 to 27, and 29 to 31 can be formedin a single operation by positioning -the two superposed sheets 5 and 6and the sandwiched washer 28 between closing dies which have heatedraised portions formed thereon which correspond in contour to The seams21 can be ture in the outer sheet 5 although aperture 11 could be cutout after the sheets are joined together.

The inlet aperture in outer sheet 5 is bounded by an annular member 35having an apertured frame or cage 36 formed thereon. Frame or cage 36extends from adjacent the outer sheet 5 into manifold 7 towards thesheet 6 to retain the two sheets in spaced relationship in the area ofthe inlet aperture. The annular member 35 may be cemented to the outersheet 5. However, preferably member 35 is formed from a plastic materialwhich can be heat seamed to the outer sheet 5 simultaneously with theformation of the heat seams or seals 20, 22 to 27, and 29 to 31.Protrusion of the frame or cage 36 between the superposed sheets 5 and 6will not interfere with formation of heat-formed seams or seals inasmuchas the plastic material of the two sheets has a limited amount ofelasticity. The apertured frame or case 36 performs the function ofspacing the air inlet opening in the outer sheet 5 from the cap usershead so that an air hose can be easily connected thereto while the capis on the users head. Turning now to FIGS. 4 and 5, one form of improved.hose connector of the instant invention will now be described. Theconnector comprises a collar 10 having a movable thumb actuated latchingmember 37 formed integrally therewith. latching member 37 is generallyelongated and extends lengthwise of collar 10. The inner end of latchmember 37 has a stepped or catch portion 38 formed thereon which willlatch itself on a shoulder 39 formed on annular member 35 when the innerend of collar 10 is inserted into annular member 35. A similar catchportion 40 is integrally formed on collar 10 opposite to catch portion38. The catch portion 38 is intended to be movable whereas this does nothave to be true with the catch portion 40 although two diametricallatches 37 could be provided. Additionally, the shoulder 39 extendscontinuously about the annular member 35 so that the collar 10 is freeto rotate within annular member 35 even in latched position.

Portions 10 of collar 10 contiguous to the latch member 37 are groovedor notched to have a reduced thickness. The collar 10 is constructedfrom a plastic molding compound and the integral reduced portions orwebs 10 thereby provide means for biasing the latch member 37 in aradially outward direction into latched position when collar 10 isinserted into annular member 35. That is to say, the reduced portions10' will permit inward flexing of the latch member 37 by fingerpressure, and when the finger pressure is released, the reduced portions10' due to their natural resiliency will return the latch member 37 toits position illustrated in FIG. 5.

The hose 9 is also preferably constructed from a plastic moldingcompound. It is preferably reinforced throughout the length thereof by aspiral spring 41 so that when the hose is bent the air supply will notbe cut oif. The spring 41 is positioned in a spiral internal grooveformed in a spiral external ridge 42 formed on hose 9. The internalsurface of collar 10 has a spiral groove 43 formed therein so that hose9 can be positioned in collar 10 by threading the ridges 42 in thegrooves 43. The plastic hose 9 provides additional biasing means for thelatch member 37 and this additional biasing means is reinforced by theresiliency of spring 41. Although not so illustrated, it will beappreciated by those skilled in the art that the spring 41 could beencapsulated in plastic and joined to the plastic hose 9 by heat sealingthe two plastics together. In view of the biasing action of hose 9 onthe latch member 37, it is clear that the reduced portions 10' could becut away. This would leave the latch member 37 disposed in a lengthwisethrough notch in collar 10 with the latch member 37 being connected tocollar 10 solely at its rear portion. However, reduced portions 10 arepreferred for the additional reason that they serve as retaining meansfor the latch member 37 with respect to its collar 10.

It will now be obvious from the foregoing description that the connectorof FIGS. 4 and 5 is provided by a unitary member having integral moldedlatch means and latch biasing means whereby the number of parts arereduced over those required by connectors of the prior Apertured cage orframe 36 is provided for several reasons. It serves as a means forspacing the inner sheet 6 from the inner edges of the connector 10 sothat there is no danger of tearing of the inner sheet 6 by connector 10when it is inserted into the apertured member 35. Additionally, itprovides means for spacing the apertured member 35 from a supportsurface or the cap users head so as to facilitate snap action movementof collar 10 into the apertured member 35. If cage or frame 36 were notprovided then the annular member 35 would have to be carefully held awayfrom the support surface or cap users head in order to snap connector 10into closed position. However, with the illustrated structure, the frame36 can be bottomed against a support surface or the cap users head andthe connector 10 merely snapped into the annular member 35. Spacing ofthe inner sheet 6 from the outer sheet 5 also insures that the airsupply is not cut off by the inner sheet blocking off the inlet openingin the outer sheet.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, illustrated therein is another form ofconnector of the instant invention. Parts which correspond to thoseillustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 will be given similar reference numerals.In this form of connector, the collar has two latch members 37' whichare intended to be movable. Opposite sides of collar 10 are cut away toprovide a pair of lengthwise extending elongated through notches 44. Thelatch members 37 are disposed in notches 44 and retained therein byintegral members 10 which extend across the notches 44. Thus, members10" form a latch retaining function similar to that provided by thereduced portion 10' in the other form of connector. However, in thesecond form of connector the radially outward biasing means for thelatches 37 is provided solely by the hose 9. Although both latch members37' are shown as being movable, it will be obvious to those skilled inthe art that one of them could be relatively fixed similar to the latch40 of the other form of connector.

Referring now to FIGS. 8 to 10, illustrated therein is a third form ofhose connector. It is similar to the second connector except that itemploys a spring to bias the latches radially outward instead of relyingon the bias of the hose 9 and additional latch retaining means areprovided. More particularly, the opposite sides of the collar 10 havelengthwise extending notches 51. Integral portions 52 of collar 10retain the latches 53 in position. However, they are assisted in this bycooperative lengthwise extending shoulders 54 and 55 formed on theopposite sides of the-notches 51 and latches 53 respectively. Also, theinner ends of the latches have tabs or the like 56 which enter grooves57 formed in the blind ends of the notches 51 to provide the hingedconnections between the latches 53 and the collar. The latches 53 arebiased radially outward by a spring 58. The spring 58 is generallyU-shaped and its opposite ends are bent over and inserted into grooves59 formed on the inner faces of the latches so as to retain the springin operative position.

While there has been shown and described several embodiments of theinvention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changesand modifications may be made without departing from the invention, andthat it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such changes andmodifications as fall Within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters 'Patent ofthe United States is:

1. A hose connector for an air manifold of a hair dryer cap, saidmanifold comprising two superposed sheets of flexible plastic material,said sheets 'being free to move away from each other when said manifoldis inflated and free to contact each other when said manifold isdeflated, one of said sheets having an aperture formed therein, a firstannular member connected to the edges of said one sheet bounding saidaperture, a hose, a second annular member connected to one end of saidhose, said second annular member being insertable into said firstannular member to connect said hose to said manifold, cooperative latchmeans on said annular members to retain said hose connected to saidmanifold, portions of said second annular member protruding for a shortdistance beyond said first annular member into said manifold and towardsthe other sheet, and means formed on said first annular member forspacing said other sheet from said portions, said means comprisingintegral formations on said first annular member, said integralformations extending across said aperture and being positioned insidesaid manifold between said portions and said other sheet.

2. A connector for connecting an air hose to an opening, said connectorcomprising a collar of molded plastic material, said collar beingconnected to one end of said hose, a lengthwiseextending groove formedin diametrically opposite outer end portions of said collar, anelongated molded plastic material latch member positioned in each ofsaid grooves, said latch members having hinged connections at theirinner ends with said collar at the inner ends of said notches, saidhinged connections comprising molded plastic material hinge meansintegrally formed on the inner ends of said .latch members and on saidcollar at the inner ends of said notches, means at the outer ends ofsaid latch members. for limiting radially outward hinged movement ofsaid latch members, said last-mentioned means comprising'molded plasticmaterial shoulders integrally formed on the opposite inside edges of theouter ends of said latch members, said shoulders having an'overhangingrelationship with the opposite inside edges of the outer-ends ofsaid-notches for limiting radially outward hinged movement of said latchmembers, resilient means positioned inside said collar behind said latchmembers for limiting radially inward hinged movement of said latchmembers and -for biasing the same to radially outward latching position,a radially outer facing hook-shaped molded plastic material latchelement integrally formed on the outer ends of said latch members, andmeans for manually hinging said latch members to radially inwardunlatching position, said last-mentioned means comprising a radiallyouter facing molded plastic material finger grip portion integrallyformed on each of said latch members, the finger grip portion of eachlatch member being located between its respective latch element andhinged connection to the collar, said finger grip portions extendingradially outward beyond their respective latchelements for radiallyinward movement of said latch elements upon manual depression of saidfinger grip portions in opposition to said resilient means. I

3. A connector for connecting an air hose to an opening, said connectorcomprising a collar of resilient molded plastic material, said collarbeing connected to one end of said hose, a lengthwise extending groovedportion formed in diametrically opposite outer end portions of saidcollar, an elongated resilient molded plastic material latch memberpositioned in each of said grooved portions, said latch members havingintegral hinged connections with said collar, said integral hingedconnections comprising a thin web of said resilient molded plasticmaterial integrally connected to said latch members and collar,resilient means positioned inside said collar behind said latch membersfor limiting radially inward hinged movement of said latch members andfor biasing the same to radially outward latching position, a radiallyouter facing hook-shaped latch element integrally formed on the outerends of said latch members, and means for manually moving said latchmembers to radially inward unlatching position, said last-mentionedmeans comprising a radially outer facing finger grip portion integrallyformed on each of said latch members, said finger grip portionsextending radially outward beyond their respective latch elements forradially inward movement of said latch elements upon manual depressionof said finger grip portions in opposition to said resilient means.

4. In a connector for connecting an air hose to an air inlet opening,said connector comprising an annular collar, a hose extending into saidcollar, and a movable latch element on said collar, said hosetelescopically mounted in said collar and underlying a substantialportion of said latch element, said hose having a tight fit in saidcollar and comprising a cylindrical conduit of deformable syntheticresinous plastic material, said deformable plastic material beingreinforced along at least that portion of the length of said conduitwhich underlies said latch by a spiral resilient filament to cause saidconduit to recover to its cylindrical shape after deformation thereof,said conduit directly engaging said latch element and bearingthereagainst in a radially outward direction whereby radially inwardmovement of said latch element by finger pressure causes deformation ofsaid conduit and then automatic radially outward movement of said latchelement after release of said finger pressure by recovery of the shapeof said conduit by its resilient filament.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 8/1959 Brock285 319 X 9/1960 Carlberg 2857 10/1961 Jepson 3499 4/ 196 3 Freedman eta1. 3499 FOREIGN PATENTS 12/1907 France. 7/1953 France.

10 CARL W. TOMLIN, Primary Examiner.

EDWARD C. ALLEN, Examiner.

T. A. LISLE, Assistant Examiner.

1. A HOSE CONNECTOR FOR AN AIR MANIFOLD OF A HAIR DRYER CAP, SAIDMANIFOLD COMPRISING TWO SUPERPOSED SHEETS OF FLEXIBLE PLASTIC MATERIAL,SAID SHEETS BEING FREE TO MOVE AWAY FROM EACH OTHER WHEN SAID MANIFOLDIS INFLATED AND FREE TO CONTACT EACH OTHER WHEN SAID MANIFOLD ISDEFLATED, ONE OF SAID SHEETS HAVING AN APERTURE FORMED THEREIN, A FIRSTANNULAR MEMBER CONNECTED TO THE EDGES OF SAID ONE SHEET BOUNDING SAIDAPERTURE, A HOSE, A SECOND ANNULAR MEMBER CONNECTED TO ONE END OF SAIDHOSE, SAID SECOND ANNULAR MEMBER BEING INSERTABLE INTO SAID FIRSTANNULAR MEMBER TO CONNECT SAID HOSE TO SAID MANIFOLD, COOPERATIVE LATCHMEANS ON SAID ANNULAR MEMBERS TO RETAIN SAID HOSE CONNECTED TO SAIDMANIFOLD, PORTIONS OF SAID SECOND ANNULAR MEMBER PROTRUDING FOR A SHORTDISTANCE BEYOND SAID FIRST ANNULAR MEMBER INTO SAID MANIFOLD AND TOWARDSTHE OTHER SHEET, AND MEANS FORMED ON SAID FIRST ANNULAR MEMBER FORSPACING SAID OTHER SHEET FROM SAID PORTIONS, SAID MEANS COMPRISINGINTEGRAL FORMATIONS ON SAID FIRST ANNULAR MEMBER, SAID INTEGRALFORMATIONS EXTENDING ACROSS SAID APERTURE AND BEING POSITIONED INSIDESAID MANIFOLD BETWEEN SAID PORTIONS AND SAID OTHER SHEET.